Zero-Click Searches: A Brand’s Guide to Thriving in the New SEO Landscape
Introduction to Zero-Click Searches
In simple terms, zero-click searches refer to search queries where the user finds the information they need right on the search results page, without having to click on any of the links. For example, if someone searches for the current weather, Google will show the temperature and forecast right at the top of the results page. The user gets their answer instantly, without needing to click through to a website.
The Evolution of Zero-Click Searches
Zero-click searches aren’t new, but their growth has accelerated significantly in recent years. Let’s deep-dive in the types of Zero click searches:
Featured Snippets
These are concise answers pulled from websites and placed at the top of Google’s search results. They often address queries like definitions, steps, or quick facts, reducing the need for users to visit the source website.
Knowledge Panels
Displayed on the right-hand side of Google’s desktop search results, these panels show verified information about entities like businesses, people, or places, consolidating brand data and often negating the need for further clicks.
In the below screenshot, you can see a knowledge panel for one of our clients, Jo Kelly, who is an actor, acting coach and founder of To Be or Not to Act.
Google 3-Pack
Also known as the Local Pack, this feature displays the top three local business listings relevant to the user’s search, including location, reviews, and contact info. For businesses targeting local audiences, visibility here is vital as it reduces the need for users to explore beyond the pack. Below screenshot is for one of our client, Alamo Ad Valorem, creating visibility right on the top of Google in the Google 3 pack:
People Also Ask (PAA)
This expandable list of related questions appears within search results and provides quick, concise answers pulled from various web sources.
AI Overviews
Since its launch in May 2024, AI Overviews have become a big part of this trend. These generative summaries aggregate and synthesize information from multiple sources to answer complex questions directly on the results page. Users often find what they need right at the top of the SERP, without visiting the originating sites.
Here’s a snapshot of how our client, Changing Paces, is gaining prominent visibility in AI Overviews for the query ‘top AODA consultants’, with their name suggested by Google and direct website links featured on the right.” Being a specialized SEO agency for small businesses, we keep up with every shift in the search landscape so our clients can confidently stand out, even among industry giants.
Alongside AI Overviews, we’re seeing platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity AI transform into “answer engines,” providing conversational responses that bypass traditional SERP formats altogether. Despite this, the opportunity for brands to stand out remains strong if they understand the new rules of the game.
We’ve helped brands build strong visibility in AI-powered search results
Recent Data on AI Overviews and Their Impact
According to a recent report by BrightEdge in May 2025, AI Overviews now appear in over 11% of Google queries, reflecting a significant shift in how users interact with search results. Over the past year, Google searches themselves have increased dramatically, with Google maintaining about 90% of the market share. At the same time, AI platforms like ChatGPT have also grown significantly, with a 21% increase in the last month alone. The report also highlights that:
- Longer and more complex search queries have seen a 49% rise in AI Overview appearances.
- Overall impressions on Google have skyrocketed by 49%.
- Click-through rates have steadily declined by nearly 30%, indicating that users are finding what they need without leaving the search page.
Industries like healthcare, education, B2B tech, insurance, travel, and entertainment are seeing the strongest presence of AI Overviews. On the other hand, the e-commerce sector hasn’t experienced the same rapid growth, largely because Google is prioritizing results from its Merchant Center for product-based searches. This means that e-commerce brands now have a growing need to optimize their presence in the Merchant Center, as users can see both paid and free product listings in sections like “Popular Products” and “Deals.”
Helping eCommerce brands grow through Google’s free product listings
The Decline of Clicks Isn’t the End- It’s a Shift
Over the years, every new SERP feature has triggered concern among brands and SEO professionals. When featured snippets first rolled out, there was an uproar and many feared that these “position zero” results were stealing clicks from organic listings. And to an extent, that was true. Featured snippets did draw attention away from traditional results, especially on informational queries. But users still scrolled down, and many websites continued to receive a healthy stream of organic traffic.
Now, with AI Overviews, the shift feels deeper. These aren’t just snippets, they’re generative responses that often summarize and synthesize content from multiple sources. Naturally, this has raised concerns again. Reports indicate a drop in click-through rates, nearly 30%, and many are bracing for further traffic losses. But it’s not a one-sided story. While we’ve noticed some decline in organic traffic for certain queries, the impact has so far been modest for our clients. In fact, Google searches overall have increased by 49%, which tells us that more users are searching, just interacting differently.
The key is how we choose to interpret this shift. Yes, fewer clicks might sound like a loss but in many cases, these AI summaries are actually boosting brand credibility. For example, when searching for “MBA consultants India,” one of our clients, Lilacbuds, is now prominently mentioned in the AI Overview.This is the result of our focused, strategic SEO that aligns with how AI-driven search surfaces content.
Even if users don’t click through immediately, the brand name is seen, recognized, and remembered. That’s not lost traffic rather it’s silent branding at scale.
Looking for strategic SEO for your brand
SEO Strategies that work in a Zero-Click World
In today’s rapidly shifting landscape, with AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews reshaping how users interact with information, the fundamentals of SEO still hold strong. At the core of it all whether you’re optimizing for traditional search, AI Overviews, or answer engines is the goal of providing a great user experience. Some of the key strategies include:-
- Website experience: Your website must be technically sound. Fast load times, clean navigation, and mobile responsiveness are now table stakes.
- Content alignment: Your content must be aligned with real user intent. Instead of vague messaging or fluff, your pages should directly address what users are searching for clearly, concisely, and with real value.
- Structured data: Whether targeting Google’s AI Overviews or answer engine optimization (AEO) for platforms like ChatGPT, having organized, accurate, and relevant schema markup helps machines understand and serve your content effectively.
- High-authority mentions: Brands should actively seek mentions on high-authority, industry-relevant websites. These third-party validations carry weight with both users and search engines.
- Link building with Intent: Quantity won’t cut it anymore. Backlinks need to come from trusted, niche-relevant sources to add real value and credibility.
Be Ready, Not Reactive: SEO’s Next Era Has Already Begun!
This is the moment for brands to truly understand the long-term power of SEO. It’s no longer just about quick wins or short bursts of traffic, it’s about building lasting visibility and trust. When done right, SEO can shape your brand identity, help you get mentioned across AI platforms, and build enough authority that users naturally gravitate toward your site, ready to convert or engage.
In the era of AI and zero-click searches posing a challenge, what will give you an edge is strategic thinking that adapts to evolving platforms, technologies, and user behaviors. That’s why it’s essential to partner with the right minds and people who understand not just how search works, but how it’s changing. At Growth Accelerators, we are a trusted SEO outsourcing company in India, offering SEO services for search engines, Generative AI and Answer engines.
ChatGPT’s New Shopping Feature: What Brands Need to Know
Did a customer recently mention they found your brand on ChatGPT before making a purchase? If not yet, it’s likely just a matter of time.
On April 28, 2025, OpenAI launched its new shopping feature within ChatGPT. Users can now search for products, compare options, read reviews, check prices, and get direct purchase links to the brand’s website. This ChatGPT shopping feature has been rolled out to all users, free or plus subscribers and even the ones not signed in. What makes this different is its personalized and conversational approach to shopping.
Adam Fry, the ChatGPT search product lead at OpenAI, in an interview with Wired mentioned, “this will be a shopping experience that’s more personalized and conversational, rather than keyword-focused. “It’s trying to understand how people are reviewing this, how people are talking about this, what the pros and cons are”
As a boutique SEO agency that keeps abreast with every shift in the search landscape, we’re here to help you explore all the details about ChatGPT’s new shopping feature in this blog.
5 Simple Yet Powerful SEO Strategies for B2B Companies in Houston
Accounting is a trust-based service, and when potential clients search online for “small business accountant near me” or “tax filing help,” your website must show up and stand out. If your firm isn’t ranking well on Google, you may be losing valuable leads every day.
Search Engine Optimization(SEO) can help create strong visibility of your website on traditional search engines like Google and even AI search platforms like ChatGPT. With the right SEO strategies, even small or solo accounting firms can improve their visibility, attract more qualified traffic, and grow sustainably without having to spend a fortune on paid ads.
5 Simple Yet Powerful SEO Strategies for E-Commerce Companies in Houston
Accounting is a trust-based service, and when potential clients search online for “small business accountant near me” or “tax filing help,” your website must show up and stand out. If your firm isn’t ranking well on Google, you may be losing valuable leads every day.
Search Engine Optimization(SEO) can help create strong visibility of your website on traditional search engines like Google and even AI search platforms like ChatGPT. With the right SEO strategies, even small or solo accounting firms can improve their visibility, attract more qualified traffic, and grow sustainably without having to spend a fortune on paid ads.
5 Simple Yet Powerful SEO Strategies for Manufacturing Companies in Houston
Running a manufacturing company in Houston or managing operations at an industrial facility? Online visibility is just as crucial for your business as it is for any consumer-facing brand. When potential clients search for phrases like “precision parts manufacturer in Houston” or “custom metal fabrication near me,” your website should appear at the top and stand out. If your business isn’t ranking well on search engines, you’re potentially missing out on a steady stream of high-intent business inquiries every month.
Search Engine Optimization(SEO) can help create strong visibility of your website on traditional search engines like Google and even AI search platforms like ChatGPT. With the right SEO strategies, even a start up or small size manufacturing set-up can improve their visibility, attract new leads, and grow sustainably without having to spend a fortune on paid ads.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through 5 simple yet powerful SEO strategies tailored for manufacturing companies.
1. Perform a website and SEO audit
Before optimizing your site, you need to know what’s slowing it down or keeping it hidden. Think of this as your baseline inspection before ramping up production or investing in automation.
A complete audit can uncover hidden technical issues, missed content opportunities, and performance bottlenecks. Key audit checks include
- Site speed and mobile responsiveness
- Broken links or redirects
- Meta tags and heading structure
- Core Web Vitals and page experience
- Analytics & performance trends
Some of the SEO tools that you can use for audits include, Screamingfrog (free version), Page speed insights. Site checker and you can also create your account and Google analytics and Google search console for more specific website audit.
Incase you would like help with setting up Google analytics or creating an account on Google search console, our guides can be really helpful.
2. Use the right keywords (Intent Matters!)
SEO success starts with understanding what your audience is searching for. For manufacturing companies, keywords typically fall into two categories:
- Transactional terms like “metal stamping company in Houston” or “plastic injection molding near me
- Informational terms like “how to choose a contract manufacturer” or “benefits of CNC machining”
Use both types in your content.A solid keyword strategy includes both. That’s how you capture attention from both decision-makers who are ready to buy and those still researching.
Tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest can help you discover relevant terms.
Bonus tip: Add geo-specific keywords like “Houston-based manufacturer” to strengthen local visibility.
At Growth Accelerators, we’ve always emphasized building a strong foundation for SEO and keyword strategy plays a central role in that. We focus on using a balanced mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords to get early traction and viz-aviz build on long-term visibility. It’s an approach that’s consistently delivered exceptional results to our clients and earned us the trust of businesses that rely on us as their go-to SEO outsourcing company in India.
3. Optimize for Local SEO and Google Maps
location-specific searches especially when buyers look for “manufacturers near me” or want site visits.
Here’s how to make it work:
- Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
- Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across directories
- Add location-specific content to your website
- Encourage clients to leave Google reviews
Local SEO puts you in front of people actively searching for your related products in your area. It’s one of the fastest ways to drive inquiries.
To set up your Google Business Account, read our detailed guide.
Want to show up more in searches within Houston?
Get a free Local SEO audit tailored for Manufacturers
4. Create valuable and search-friendly content
With Google’s recent core updates placing greater emphasis on content relevance and search intent, creating high-quality, useful content has become non-negotiable. Thus, your website content should be both- user and search engine friendly.
While developing content for your website think about the questions your clients ask the most:
- What’s the difference between die casting and injection molding?
- How does CNC machining ensure precision in complex parts?
To be truly effective, your content must do more than just include keywords, it must reflect a real understanding of search intent. Is the reader looking for a step-by-step guide? Trying to compare options? Seeking clarity on a technical topic? Aligning your content with the “why” behind a search is what separates high-performing pages from those that get buried.
Our content strategists suggests the following tips for well-structured content:
- Focus on accuracy and clarity, especially with complex topics.
- Use a conversational tone to answer questions naturally and helpfully.
- Structure your content with headings,sub-headings, and internal links to make it easy to navigate.
- Regularly audit and refine older pages to better match evolving search intent and Google’s quality standards.
Search engines love well-organized content. So do your future clients.
5. Focus on Technical SEO and User Experience (UX)
Even the best content won’t rank if your site has technical issues. Make sure:
- Your site loads fast
- You have an XML sitemap and robots.txt file
- There are no broken links or crawl errors
- Your pages are mobile-friendly
Also, don’t overlook user experience, things like easy navigation, clear flow of content, and strong CTAs (calls to action) matter. Your website should not only attract visitors but guide them toward becoming clients.
SEO is an Ongoing Process just like Quality Control in Manufacturing
SEO isn’t a one-off task. Like quality control on a production line, it requires continuous refinement to stay competitive and deliver results.
Whether you’re a small shop-floor operation or an established manufacturing facility, implementing these five strategies can help your firm stand out in search results, attract the right leads, and establish long-term credibility online.
Need expert help with your SEO strategy?
If you’re still unsure about how to approach SEO for a manufacturing company in Houston or want professional guidance to get it right from the start, we’re here to help. At Growth Accelerators, we specialize in SEO for manufacturing companies. As a boutique SEO agency, we work with one client at a time, giving your business the focused attention it deserves.
Our custom strategies are tailored to your goals, your market, and your budget. We understand the unique challenges small businesses face, which is why we never lock clients into long-term contracts. Instead, as a reliable SEO agency in Houston, TX, we stay accountable month after month by delivering meaningful results.
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Accounting is a trust-based service, and when potential clients search online for “small business accountant near me” or “tax filing help,” your website must show up and stand out. If your firm isn’t ranking well on Google, you may be losing valuable leads every day.
Search Engine Optimization(SEO) can help create strong visibility of your website on traditional search engines like Google and even AI search platforms like ChatGPT. With the right SEO strategies, even small or solo accounting firms can improve their visibility, attract more qualified traffic, and grow sustainably without having to spend a fortune on paid ads.
5 Simple Yet Powerful SEO Strategies for Accountants in Houston
Accounting is a trust-based service, and when potential clients search online for “small business accountant near me” or “tax filing help,” your website must show up and stand out. If your firm isn’t ranking well on Google, you may be losing valuable leads every day.
Search Engine Optimization(SEO) can help create strong visibility of your website on traditional search engines like Google and even AI search platforms like ChatGPT. With the right SEO strategies, even small or solo accounting firms can improve their visibility, attract more qualified traffic, and grow sustainably without having to spend a fortune on paid ads.
The Top 7 SEO Outsourcing Companies in India in 2025
Search Engine Optimization (SEO), at its core, is the process of optimizing your website so that it ranks well on search engines like Google, Bing, and others. The goal is simple: to make your website visible when potential customers are actively looking for the products or services you offer.
But, is SEO really important for every type and size of business?
Absolutely!
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Are you a business owner struggling to see real results from SEO?
Wondering how small businesses manage to rank on Google in today’s competitive landscape?
Or maybe you’re just looking for advanced and more effective SEO strategies?
Structured Data For Website
There is a common method for categorizing the content of your website: structured data, also known as schema markup. You may think of it as giving search engines like Google, Bing, and other search engine a comprehensive roadmap of the content on your page. Search engines can comprehend the meaning and context of text rather than merely viewing it in its raw form.
